Stuffy Nose

You just never realize how wonderful it is to be able to breathe, until you get a head/chest cold and you feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest, with it's trunk wrapped around your head, squeezing for dear life. Exaggeration? Maybe...but it sure feels that way.

It also feels a little like this guy, when I smile...



Now, I'm off to drink my TheraFlu and try to get this elephant off my chest...

Christmas '08

Christmas was really great this year. No running around trying to make sure we saw everyone, just relaxing, calm, and enjoyable, as it should be. Although, I did miss being at my Nannie's, as I do most years, my brother sent me pics of my niece and nephew playing outside and letting me know that I was in their hearts and thoughts.



Of course, Santa came and, to Ethan's surprise did NOT eat the cookies he left out that he had taken a bite out of..LOL..(I wonder why that was and how he knew?)...Anyway, he did eat the ones that were NOT bitten off of, so don't fear, Santa did get his required portion of cookie and milk fuel.


The rest of the day was spent enjoying family and shooting each other with dart guns...I must thank Chris for thinking of that wonderful gift for he and Ethan, that just keeps on giving.




Then my daughter came on Friday and we enjoyed some quality one-on-one mother-daughter time. We watched The Women on pay-per-view, made sand tarts (our favorites), and then on Saturday we walked around the mall, so she could spend her gift cards. It was the best Christmas present ever!!!

And, isn't that what Christmas should be all about anyway, family? Well, mine certainly was and spending time with my daughter after almost a year was the best ever!! No amount of material things could ever replace that!



Now, if I could just shake this pesky chest cold that is trying to turn into more..grrr..

I have to admit that I usually dread going to Luling, Texas, but this past weekend was a very nice surprise. We got to spend most of the day (it was later than we expected when we finally got there) with Heidi and we went to Seguin to take pictures. After a long and tedious photo shoot, where Ethan was being "uncooperative," as Heidi so lovingly pointed out..LOL..we went to Dairy Queen for some ice cream.




Chris got to spend some one-on-one time with Heidi and Ethan in the game arcade at Wal-Mart while I was looking at, and purchasing, the pictures.




Then we had a great visit with Kristie and Bud, at the end of the evening. Those two are very special and always make me laugh.

Yesterday we went to Aaron and Karrie's for the family Christmas festivities. Andy and his crew were late, as usual...LOL..glad I'm not the only one known for that trait, but a good time was had by all. It's always nice to get to spend time with Net and the family..especially with all the good food and merriment. Although, we did miss having Heidi and my daughter, Brittany, there, they were in our thoughts and hearts. I wore my beautiful necklace that Heidi made, and gave, to me the night before. Which I have been wearing ever since.




Ethan helped me make pies to take over to Aaron and Karrie's Sunday morning and approved both to his liking. He didn't care much about eating the food, but was very concerned about the chocolate and pumpkin pies we made..LOL...




Now I not only have Christmas to look forward to in a couple of days, but the weekend, as well, when my daughter and I will be spending the day together for Christmas.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

The older I get the more I experience how true the old adage "Actions speak louder than words," is. I've found that not only do they speak louder than words, but they hurt more, as well.

Then there's the one, "Ignorance is blind."

Have you ever loved someone to the point where you gave up most, if not all, of yourself to take on their problems? Well, maybe it's just me....but, I doubt as much.

In doing this the only thing I regret is that I cannot fix those problems, try as I may, nor can I make them go away. Nor can I fix the pain they've caused, or make it go away, and everyday I am reminded of the injury, as insult is added over and over.

So, wherein lies the forgiveness? If you bear the injury and every day a knife is inserted and turned, to where there is no possible way of healing, then where do you start the healing process. And maybe the other adage is true..."Only HE can forgive."

I pray for a deeper understanding of how to begin this healing process, because maybe in that lies my salvation. But, what if the salvation only comes from cutting the tumor out of the scar and thus, hurting not just yourself, or the one you love, but the little people who depend on you and are innocent in all the treachery and deceitfullness.

This my dear friends is what I struggle with everyday and by writing it down and reading it over and over, maybe I can find some deeper meaning and understanding that I have thus far not been able to reach.

Christmas Memories

My daughter helped to remind me of a beautiful memory today.......back when I had to drive 7 hours on a Sunday to and from Mexia to pick her up from her father's house we would listen to The Christmas Guest by Reba. Although those trips seemed loooong and at times a pain in the butt, now I look back on them with fond memories, because once I got her in the car with me and we were back on the road again towards Houston, those were the best bonding times ever!

I can't wait to see her next week and relive some old memories of baking sand tarts, listening to Christmas music and just hanging with one another. I think I'll even run out and buy another Reba CD if I can't locate my old one..

This is the best Christmas gift a mother could ever get! So, I guess my point is to remember NOT to take any little moment for granted with your children, because no matter how small they may seem, one day they may end up being one of the biggest and best memories you have of being together.

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas, I know I am!

Snow in Houston (12-11-2008)

Snow Night in Houston (12-10-2008)

Well, it finally happened...it snowed in Houston, which only happens about once every 4 years, or so. Of course, it was mostly all melted this morning by 9:00 a.m.; however, it was great to see how excited the kids were to play in it and reminded me of when I was a kid and always prayed for snow.

Of course, to their disappointment school was NOT cancelled today...LOL..which was a big surprise.

But I can tell you that we had a great time and after the snowball fight, which poor Lil Mal lost, due to big bro and big sis ganging up on her....we had hot chocolate with LOTS of marshmallows and homemade oatmeal raisin cookies. It was a truly wonderful end to a looong, cold winter's day.♥

Now we just have to wait another 4 years...

Beginnings....and Halloween

This is a new beginning for me...I'm not much of a writer, but Lord knows I always have much to say, to the dismay of most. :0P

Halloween was fun, and very relaxing, for a change. But also, a little sad.

Gone are the days of trick-or-treaters ringing the doorbell every 5 seconds, or you having to just sit outside and hand out candy because it's just more time efficient than having to keep getting up and run to the door, like a jack-in-the-box.

Gone are the days where I get to set up the apple-bobbing tub for my kids and their friends, and make ice cream cupcakes. They are too big for such matters as those now, and frankly can't be bothered with child's games and silly things such as bobbing for apples.

And even sadder still...gone are the days when I was young and we kids would all load up in the back of the pick-up, dressed as our favorite cartoon character, or superhero, and drive from house to house, where the little old ladies of Davilla would have the apple-bobbing tub set up for us, or homemade treats and goodies, such as popcorn balls, candy apples and other numerous wonders made of sugar and love.

And this is what I miss the most. The fun and simple innocence of youth. Nowdays if I was to be like those wonderful lil ole ladies and have such treats for the very few trick-or-treaters that are allowed to go door-to-door, I would probably be labled as a "crazy lady," or even worse, still.

So, it is safe to say that I miss the Halloween of yesteryear and have to say that it saddens me that my kids, or even my grandkids, will never know those wonderful things that I, myself, took for granted when I was growing up. Nor will they have the wonderful memories that I, alone, have experienced, and miss.